A student at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale has been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, according to a SIU News report.
Bacterial meningitis is highly contagious and transmissible via person-to-person contact and is characterized by fever, headache and stiff neck. Death can occur in as little as few hours.
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"This bacterium is not transmitted by routine classroom contact," said Ted Grace, MD, director of University Health Services, according to the report. "Persons who have been intimately exposed to cases of this disease, such as persons living in the same household, are usually treated with a special antibiotic to prevent them from becoming ill. However, as a precaution, we have reached out to students and faculty in the student's classes, as well."
The student was diagnosed April 24 and remained in critical condition as of the April 25 report from SIU News.
To learn more about bacterial meningitis, click herelick here.
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